Archives

Fertilizing Your Landscape with Compost

lawn care st petersburg flMany people have heard of using compost as an organic lawn fertilizer, but they do not know how to use it. Compost is an organic, carbon-containing product that has gone through some period of decay. Generally, it will consist of vegetative matter, sewage sludge, cottonseed meal, and peat, amongst other materials.

When you are using compost before planting, you should add it directly to the soil. If you make sure that some of the larger material has been screened out, you can apply ½- to 1-inch of your compost as a topdressing to your lawn. When you purchase commercial organic compost in the store, you should check the sides of the packaging for a nutrient analysis label to see what nutrients it will add to your soil. If you choose to make your own compost, it is important to have it tested periodically to make sure there are beneficial nutrients being provided. Compost will always contain carbon and nitrogen, but you may need to find an additional source of nitrogen and additional plant nutrients.

Your landscape is important to us and we want to take care of it! Southern Green provides lawn care in St. Petersburg, FL, as well as Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville. From lawn pest control to lawn care aeration services, we are prepared to improve your lawn!

Grass Clippings and Your Lawn

lawn care tampaDo you use a mower that recycles grass clippings? Many people swear by these types of mowers, while others swear at them, claiming that grass clippings ruin lawns. We have good news for the people who have mulching mowers – our research has shown that clippings are beneficial to your landscape!

When it comes to your Florida lawn, it is a wise idea to mow with a mulching mower. The clippings help recycle the nutrients back to the soil and do not contribute to thatch, as others say. Thatch is the layer of already dead and decomposing organic matter that rests on top of your soil and below the grass leaves. When you contribute clippings to the ground, they are readily decomposed by microbial action. This means you won’t have to deal with the clippings, as thatch is typically made up of stems, rhizomes, and other hard to degrade components. With that said, if you have issues with thatch and notice your clippings are beginning to clump, you can rake them to make sure they are distributed evenly.

Whether you believe in recycling the clippings or always spend time bagging after you mow the lawn, you can find exceptional lawn care in Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, and South Florida from the talented team at Southern Green.

Mowing Your Bermudagrass Lawn

lawn care orlando flKeeping your lawn healthy and attractive means making sure that you adopt proper mowing practices. After you have established your landscape of green Bermudagrass and made sure your irrigation system is working properly, it’s time to start properly mowing your lawn.

Typically, your bermudagrass lawn should be mowed to a height of approximately ¾ to 1 ½ inches. If you mow any lower, it leaves the grass more susceptible to weed and pest problems. Depending on your location and the time of year, this may mean mowing your lawn as often as three times a week. You want to make sure that you are mowing it at the highest recommended level possible, as it encourages your grass to develop a better root system. It is recommended that you invest in a reel mower when working with bermudagrass, as the height can be more accurately adjusted. It also has a cleaner cut. If you only have a rotary mower, it is important to make sure the blades are properly sharpened and adjusted properly.

Hire the team at Southern Green to assist you with your bermudagrass landscape. We offer lawn care in Orlando, FL, as well as Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami. We are available to assist you with pest problems, as well as fertilization, shrubbery care, and aeration issues.

Establishing a Zoysiagrass Lawn

lawn care st petersburg fl

The process of establishing your own lawn can often be frustrating, but with a little patience and skill, you can create a beautiful lawn that will impress anyone. Zoysiagrass is typically planted by sod, plugs, or sprigs. All you need to do is make sure that your soil is properly prepared and choose one of the following:

  • Sodding – Produce an instant turf of Zoysiagrass when you choose this method. When laying down sod, you should make sure that it is laid on moist soil, watering it at least two times a day until the sod holds fast.
  • Plugging – This is a relatively slow method of planting Zoysiagrass. It’s vital that your plugs are planted on 6 to 8 inch centers. Once planted, it usually takes at least one whole season for complete coverage.
  • Sprigging – Sprigging is a very time consuming, yet effective way of planting Zoysiagrass. You should plant your sprigs in rows that are 6 inches apart and leave a portion of each sprig exposed to light. While doing this process, your soil should stay moist until new growth begins and the area is completely covered.

Zoysia grass is an investment that pays off, so you should make sure that your landscape receives the care it deserves. Our specialists at Southern Green offer a wide array of services throughout Florida, including lawn care in St. Petersburg, FL, as well as Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami.

Choosing Turfgrass for Shady Landscapes

lawn care orlando flLiving in an area that has a lot of shade presents a variety of issues to individuals who want to grow a beautiful lawn. Whether you are building a new home and setting up a lawn for the first time or interested in revitalizing your current lawn, it’s important to make sure you choose the right turfgrass for your shaded landscape.

As usual, St. Augustinegrass is the best overall species for growth in shade, as this is one of the best and most versatile turfgrasses for Florida landscapes. You should look for ‘Seville’ and ‘Delmar’ cultivars, as they have the best shade tolerance. You can also choose Zoysiagrass for your shady landscape. Any cultivar of this turfgrass will be good for your landscape. It should also be noted that Bahiagrass is not recommended for shady conditions, but some centipedegrass will tolerate moderate conditions. If your landscape has a large amount of shade, Bahiagrass is not the right choice for your needs.

From taking care of your turfgrass to assisting you with your with trees and shrubbery, Southern Green is ready to plan a custom lawn treatment service to fit your needs. Whether your lawn is in the shade or right out in the sun, we provide lawn care in Orlando, FL, as well as Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami.

Watering Your Bermudagrass Lawn

south florida lawn careAfter you have established a bermudagrass lawn, it’s important that you properly water it to make sure it remains lush and green. You should make sure that you have a good irrigation system installed in your landscape to guarantee it receives the water it needs!

Bermudagrass is a “water as needed” grass. This means that the only times you’ll need to run your sprinkler system is when the leave blades begin to wilt or start turning blue-grey in color. You should only apply as much as ¾ of an inch of water to your landscape while watering. If necessary, you should run tests on your sprinkler system to make sure it is watering your grass properly. The roots are only in the top 8 inches of soil, so it’s important to be mindful of the amount of water you are putting on your grass.

If there is a prolonged drought, your Bermuda grass will go dormant. During this period, it will turn brown and stop growing. Once the drought is over, it will revive and start growing again with the proper amount of water.

Are you prepared to have someone assist you with your beautiful new landscape? The specialists at Southern Green are available to assist you! We provide dependable North, Central, and South Florida lawn care services, including pest control and fertilization services. Call us to inquire about our availability!

Choosing Quality Seed for Your Lawn

south florida lawn careSeeding your lawn is the easiest way to establish a new landscape, but it also requires patience and dedication. Before seeding your lawn, considering the seeding time, rate, and method of seeding is necessary. Perhaps one of the most important aspects to consider is seed quality.

When you are choosing seed for your lawn, you should take the time to do your research. Florida laws require that each container of seed lists vital information, such as turfgrass species, purity, and weed content. While you are making your purchase, you should review each tag carefully and only purchase seeds that have a purity level of at least 90% and a germination level of at least 85%. Many contractors tend to buy seed that doesn’t have as high of a purity and germination percentage and it shows in the landscapes they create. If someone else is installing your landscape, consult with them to make sure you are receiving the best seed available for your landscape.

Once your seeds have sprouted and your lawn is established, you can hire the team at Southern Green to take care of your landscape. We offer North, Central, and South Florida lawn care services, including pest control, lawn aeration, and fertilization services.

Pests and Their Effect on Zoysiagrass

lawn pest control orlando flWhen you plant a new lawn of Zoysiagrass, it’s vital that you know about the pest issues you may be facing. From insects and nematodes to grass diseases, knowing what type of problems you will be dealing with ahead of time is very important. Here are just a few of the problems you may face:

  • Hunting Billbugs – Billbugs are the most serious insect problems for Zoysiagrass. These creatures feed on the roots of this grass, causing it to die in oddly-shaped patches. When you have a billbug problem, the solution is periodic chemical control.
  • Nematodes – Some have said that nematodes are the most serious pests when it comes to Zoysiagrass. These microscopic worms are known to attach the grass roots and, when not under control, will eventually kill the entire turf.
  • Grass Diseases – Brown patch, rust, and dollar spot are the biggest disease issues when it comes to lawn disease problems. When you regularly water the landscape and frequently fertilize your lawn, you can fight these issues with ease.

Lawn pest control is one of the many specialties of the team at Southern Green. Our staff offers lawn pest control in Orlando, FL, as well as a variety of other areas like Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa.

Controlling Weeds with Mulch

lawn care tampaAre you having problems with weeds on your landscape? There are a lot of control methods you can do to take care of them, such as mowing, pulling, and herbicide application. If you are having weed problems in your garden, footpaths, or any other areas where grass does not usually grow, mulch may be the natural answer to your problems.

Laying down a mulch of non-living materials to prevent light from reaching the ground is a very effective way to fight weeds. You can put down a wide array of mulching materials, such as straw, sawdust, hay, plastic film, and the traditional wood chips. By laying down a minimum of 2 inches of this material, you’ll find that this is a very effective, long-term way to fight weeds. It is important to remember that your mulch can move, so you should be mindful while mowing around these areas. Mulch can cause accidents that may hurt someone or ruin your hard work when hit by a mower.

Investing in your landscape is simple when you hire the superb specialists at Southern Green. We offer lawn care in Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando, as well as many South Florida cities. Come to us to learn more about how our lawn treatment services can improve your landscape.

Common Pests in St. Augustinegrass

pest control jacksonville flWhen installing a new lawn of St. Augustinegrass, it’s important to know about the common pest that can affect your landscape. When you know the signs of common pests, you’ll be able to take care of them before they become a problem.

Typically most St. Augustinegrass lawns have issues with chinch bugs. These insects suck plant juices through a needlelike beak, turning your grass yellow or brown. If you suspect that your lawn could have a chinch bug infestation, check your lawn by removing the ends of a coffee can, inserting one end into the soil at the damage area, and filling it with water. The chinch bugs should float to the top within five minutes. Standard single insecticide treatments may not take care of your problem, so it’s important to work with the specialists.

In addition to chinch bugs, webworms, armyworms, mole crickets, and grass loopers often cause problems in St. Augustinegrass. If you have high levels of nitrogen fertilizer in your grass, then you are more likely to have problems with these pests.

Are you noticing pests in your lawn? The staff at Southern Green offer lawn pest control in Jacksonville, FL, as well as Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Contact us today to inquire about our services and have one of our specialists inspect your landscape today.